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Friday, November 18, 2005
Mindanao mango growers to improve production
AFTER other countries showed interest in Philippine mango, the Mindanao Mango Industry Council is determined to improve mango production as well as comply with international market standards.
Mirope Lamsen, agri-business section head of the regional office of the Department of Agriculture, said the council is in the process of enlisting contractors who were tapped by mango farm owners to undertake farm operations like spraying, harvesting and other related tasks.
She said the group was alarmed after Japan came out with a more stringent policy with regards to the chemical residue of the fruit.
"We do not have record of these contractors and I think it is important that there has to be a data of these fruit handlers," she said.
She said most of them do not have proper training especially in the application of chemicals that need careful handling.
The government in coordination with the Mango Industry Council of Mindanao after coming up with a rooster of mango contractors will be given thorough training in handling of the fruit.
Lamsen said the activity will be in anticipation of the highly competitive international market requirement even as she said that the demand for fresh and processed mango in other countries is great.
She said that figures on mango export in 2004 accounted for 967,473 metric tons and only 19.51 percent was Mindanao's contribution or about 188,810 metric tons.
"With the move to improve the quality of mango there is no doubt that Mindanao's export contribution will increase as well as offer safe fruit to both local and international consumers," Lamsen said.
She also said that there is big demand for mango in the domestic market where some 946,030.25 metric tons is the estimated requirement for this year.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (November 18, 2005 issue)
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